"If people like to hunt, they put up a trophy," Lieuw says. "If you happen to find a hunter, they love it; but someone from the Sierra Club, it turns them off."

Family photos? Lose them. Buyers want to envision themselves in the house, not the owner and especially not all the owner's furniture, household clutter and children's baby pictures.

"Put away all the photos that hang up on the wall. [They] will distract the buyer," Lieuw says. "If you believe you're really going to move, why not start to pack? Less clutter makes your house look bigger."